# Pitting Ed Zotti **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 14, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802 "2005-05-14T04:32:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/1 "2005-05-14T04:32:45Z")
I’m not impressed with the way you treat your customers. I received notification on April 25 that my access was about to expire. This was the first time that I was made aware of a request for re subscribing. Shortly thereafter, on May 4 , Paypal confirmed that I had paid the Chicago reader $14.95 USD. Today, May 13 my access was restored. Kind of tardy isn’t it ? My wife’s income tax refund which I e-filed on May 2 came through faster than that. I was beginning to wonder whether or not I had been banned, and without the search function I had no means to check. Its no fun being banned. But what I’m really ticked off about **Ed** is that you went back on your word, and that cost me money. Remember this e-mail you sent on March 25,2004 ? Check the line I bolded. > [@](#): > > Excuse the spam, but we’ve got some good news for you: The Straight Dope > Message Board has switched to paid subscriptions. Why is that good news? > Because it means we’re serious about maintaining the SDMB, one of the best > boards on the Net. Now for some even better news: For a limited time you > can subscribe for the first year for an unbelievably low _ **US $4.95.** _\*\* In > addition, you get a 50% discount on subscriptions for later years.\*\* If you > DON’T act now, a subscription will cost you a still pretty reasonable US > $14.95. If you haven’t stopped by the SDMB in a while, why not do so now? > Full details are available at: Well I completed my end of that deal. Why can’t you honour yours? ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/2 "2005-05-14T04:36:19Z")
Somehow, it seems a little silly to think that Ed Zotti went back on any word - it’s not like he actually handles the subscriptions. When you submitted the payment, and a few days later still didn’t have access, did you email anyone to ask what was up? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/3 "2005-05-14T04:42:03Z")
Despite the claims to the contrary that I’m sure will follow, I got NO notification my subscription was running out. I ended up ponying up the full amount to get back in. No email, not once. Trust me on this. And no, I didn’t read any “sticky” thread. Nor will I ever. Cycle World, Rolling Stone and National Geographic send me a notice when my sub is running out, I expected no less from this joint. What ever. I just scraped up change from under the car seats to cover it. (man of the people, and all that) ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/4 "2005-05-14T04:44:19Z")
Did you double check that you have emails from the administrators allowed? It’s an option in your control panel that can be turned off and on under the “Options” link in Control Panel. If it is off, anything the board sends out will not be sent to you. Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/5 "2005-05-14T04:44:24Z")
You _didn’t_ “complete your end of the deal”. You were careless, let your subscription lapse, and thus must pay the full rate. There were stickies at the top of every page here for weeks, warning of the impending renewal date. “I didn’t know” is lame beyond imagination. If you didn’t get an email, it’s because you had requested that mods/admins not email you. If you had renewed on time, you’d have had the reduced rate. Like in many other areas of life, snooze ya’ loose. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/6 "2005-05-14T04:49:11Z")
Actually, after some reflection I think I have a better understaning of the gripe (I misread one of the dates in the OP the first time round): Last year, we were told that if we subscribed before April 24, we would get the 4.95 rate, plus a 50% discount on future years’ subscriptions. That statement was not qualified with “if you resubscribe within a certain time frame”. Therefore, \*\*grienspace \*\*feels that **Ed Zotti** (as representative of the board in general, and sender of the email) failed his part of the agreement because it wasn’t immediately obvious that there would be limitations on the discount in the future. That’s just my interpretation of the OP, which, IMO, changes the gripe completely. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/7 "2005-05-14T05:00:59Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Did you double check that you have emails from the administrators allowed? > > Just a thought. I was just about to give myself a huge :smack: and an “I’ll shut up now!”, but I checked and I do indeed allow emails from the admins! Now I’m _really_ gettin’ steamed! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shadez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Shadez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadez)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/8 "2005-05-14T05:16:24Z")
You can still give yourself a good :smack: for not thinking it important enough to read stickies. Just so you don’t feel left out, yanno. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/9 "2005-05-14T05:19:57Z")
> [@Shadez](#): > > …give yourself a good :smack: … Oh, I will. Just lower. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/10 "2005-05-14T05:59:40Z")
I saw the stickies and resubscribed on time, but FWIW, I did not get an email either, and my options are set correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/11 "2005-05-14T08:13:04Z")
A lot of people were having problems with their renewal notices being blocked by their spam filters which is, of course, not the fault of Zotti ‘n’ crew. I know I got my notice, read it, and renewed right then. Occasionally the system works! ---
**Author:** ![Eolbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@Eolbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eolbo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/12 "2005-05-14T10:13:09Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > A lot of people were having problems with their renewal notices being blocked by their spam filters which is, of course, not the fault of Zotti ‘n’ crew. I know I got my notice, read it, and renewed right then. Occasionally the system works! Yeah there seem to have been problems. In the process I’ve lost my Charter Member status, now I’m only a peasanty member _sob_ ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/13 "2005-05-14T10:32:26Z")
> [@Eolbo](#): > > Yeah there seem to have been problems. In the process I’ve lost my Charter Member status, now I’m only a peasanty member _sob_ Have you read [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6109368&postcount=1) ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/14 "2005-05-14T10:45:47Z")
Yeah, seems like we need a new campaign. “Re-up NOW, for 2006!” ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/15 "2005-05-14T10:46:32Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > Yeah, seems like we need a new campaign. > > “Re-up NOW, for 2006!” “Four More Years” ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/16 "2005-05-14T11:14:24Z")
I had some re-subscription problems (my membership had expired without my receiving any notification because the old email address the SDMB had for me was invalid, so I couldn’t re-subscribe because my email addy was wrong, and I couldn’t correct my email addy because my membership had lapsed). I wrote to the Dope and got an immediate fix for the problem, plus a kind email from Ed explaining how I could get my charter membership back (which I neglected to do by the deadline, but that’s nobody else’s fault). Just felt it my duty to kiss up to management, er, I mean add another data point to the discussion. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/17 "2005-05-14T12:10:39Z")
It wouldn’t hurt to know the specifics of your account and not depend on the actions of others either. Responsibilty…it’s what’s for dinner. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/18 "2005-05-14T12:45:43Z")
It is amazing to me that most of the replies so far indicate that everone is willing to give **Ed Zotti** a pass for reneging on our contract. I repeat, **Ed** offered me a deal last year which I couldn’t refuse. I accepted his offer and paid my end of the bargain which he accepted. I paid for a one year subscription and 50% off of future subscription rates. _ **His offer included no ifs ands or buts.** _ Period. I don’t care how many qualifications he’s added to our bargain since. I originally signed up and paid in good faith. I fully expect to be around for at least an other couple of decades(my subscriptions may come in late now and then), thus his abrogation of our contact could very well cost me several hundred dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/19 "2005-05-14T12:46:20Z")
This reminds me of a “joke”: This lady’s car stops running, so she has it towed to the service center. The mechanic looks under the hood, does some stuff, and comes over to the lady. Mechanic: Your engine died because there was no oil in it. Lady: Really? M: Yes. Did your “Oil” light come on? L: Yes, but I thought if it was really bad, it would blink or something. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2005, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802/20 "2005-05-14T12:48:09Z")
last year I had a payment problem and big Ed sent a personal email explaining what happened and what they were doing about it. Ed also corrected my spelling of “weasel” (I had “weasle”) on a Cecil thread comment. If that ain’t going the extra mile for service, I don’t know what is. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pitting-ed-zotti/303802.md?page=2)